Singapore FM: Pyongyang has 'next-day delivery,' but isn't ready for talks

Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan described Pyongyang as a "modern, clean, and systematically planned city" that has seen "considerable development" since his last visit eight years prior. During his recent trip to North Korea, Balakrishnan shared a 30-second video on Facebook showcasing the capital's high-rise buildings, apartments, and citizens commuting via subway and electric buses.

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Pyongyang is a modern, clean, and systematically planned city, and it has seen considerable development since I was last here eight years ago.

"The streets are busy, there are more cars on the roads, and there are many new buildings and development projects," Balakrishnan wrote in his post, highlighting visible signs of economic activity. He also noted that North Korea claims to have a functioning e-commerce system with purported same-day delivery, though he did not personally test this service.

Despite observing these signs of economic progress, Balakrishnan concluded that North Korea is not prepared for substantive dialogue with the United States or South Korea. He stated in interviews with Singaporean media that Pyongyang is currently prioritizing "self-reliance and strengthening military deterrence" over diplomatic engagement.

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The streets are busy, there are more cars on the roads, and there are many new buildings and development projects.

Balakrishnan, who met with North Korean officials including Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, also observed a significant shift in Pyongyang's stance regarding reunification with South Korea. "They have completely and definitively rejected reunification," he noted, adding that this position appears to have solidified recently. He advised South Korea and the U.S. to practice "strategic patience," urging them not to worsen the situation and to seek opportunities for dialogue and assistance in the long term.

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They are not ready to open meaningful dialogue channels with the US or South Korea.

Singapore, which maintains diplomatic ties with North Korea and previously hosted the 2018 Trump-Kim summit, will continue to keep communication channels open within the framework of UN Security Council sanctions. Balakrishnan encouraged North Korea to open dialogue channels with regional countries during his visit, extending an invitation to the ASEAN Regional Forum in July, an event North Korea has not attended since 2019.

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They have completely and definitively rejected reunification.